Apparatus for drawing linear stock



July 12, 1966 D. MERSEK 3,260,084

APPARATUS FOR DRAWING LINEAR STOCK Filed May 2, 1962 5 Sheets-Sheet l II4 I 1 m ill 5 FIG. 3

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July 12, 1966 L. D. MERSEK 3,260,084

APPARATUS FOR DRAWING LINEAR STOCK Filed May 2, 1962 5 Sheets-Sheet 4INVENTOR. [0 0. MEA EK wza TTOPNE Y5 July 12, 1966 D. MERSEK APPARATUSFOR DRAWING LINEAR STOCK 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed May 2, 1962 INVENTOR. 500. MEPSEK W,

? g ww Arr-0 N575 United States Patent of Ohio Filed May 2, 1962, Ser.No. 191,770 21 Claims. (Cl. 7220) This invention relates to drawingapparatus for drawing linear stock, such as bar stock, rod stock andWire and, more particularly, to drawing apparatus of the reciprocatingtype in which the drawing action is produced "by a relative axialdrawing traverse between the stock and a drawing die in the form of asuccession of drawing strokes.

One form of reciprocating drawing apparatus heretofore available hasbeen used in conjunction with an associated mechanism or fabricatingmachine, such as a cut-off mechanism or a cold header, and supplies thedrawn stock, hereinafter referred to merely as wire, to the associatedmechanism at substantially the rate of production of the drawn stock bythe drawing apparatus. The drawing operation has been accomplished insuch previous apparatus by pushing a drawing die axially along and overthe wire while the latter is being held against backward movement by anassociated gripping device.

The drawing die and the gripping device thus comprise drawing componentsof a drawing unit of which the drawing die has usually been mounted on areciprocably movable slide. The slide has frequently been actuated by aswingable d-raw lever to which movement is imparted by suitable drivemeans such as a rotatable eccentric or a drag link extending betweensuch lever and the power means of the associated mechanism.

When a reciprocating wire drawer of the previous type just abovereferred to is actuated by power transmitted thereto from the associatedmechanism it imposes an added work load thereon which is oftenundesirable. It is also characteristic of such previous type of reeiproeating wire drawer that it requires a strong and rugged frame forsupporting the die slide and draw lever, and also requires a large areaof floor space. Objectionable noise and vibration have usually occurredduring operation, particularly from the repeated reversal of thedirection of swing of the draw lever and from the repeated bumping ofthe draw lever against the die slide. These problems are furtheraggravated when the frame, die slide, draw lever and grip device areconstructed of an increased size and weight to enable the drawingapparatus to handle wire of a thick or heavy cross-sectional size. Tosuccessfully carry out such drawing operation on wire of a large sizealso necessitated stronger and heavier actuating means for the drawlever in order to safely handle the increased power needed to besupplied to the wire drawer.

Other problems have been encountered in the construction and operationof a reciprocating wire drawer of the previous type referred to aboveincluding the fact that a long drawing stroke has been difiicult andcostly to achieve and the fact that pull back of the drawn stock hasheretofore imposed a limitation on the minimum length of article whichcould be produced from the drawn stock. Other problems encounteredconcern the fact that the feed rolls for advancing the drawn stock haveheretofore been subjected to heavy loading because the return stroke ofthe die slide utilizes pulling movement transmitted thereto from thefeed rolls through the drawn stock, and the fact that when pointing ofthe drawn stock was to be performed in the associated mechanism theincreased length of feed needed for that operation was not readilyobtainable.

An object of the present invention is to provide novel drawing apparatuscapable of producing a smooth, rapid and powerful drawing action by adrawing unit comprising relatively movable drawing die and grip devicecomponents, and wherein the problems referred to above are minimized oreliminated by embodying the power means for producing the drawingstrokes directly in the drawing unit.

Another object is to provide novel drawing apparatus having a drawingunit with the power means embodied directly therein, as just abovereferred to, and wherein the power means comprises reeiprocablyco-operable cylinder and piston members connected with the respectivedrawing components for causing opening and closing axial relativemovements therebetween.

A further object is to provide such novel drawing apparatus whereinfluid pressure supply means for the power means comprises reversingmeans for controlling the power means in a manner such that the drawingtraverse is a succession of drawing strokes for a resulting substantialycontinuous production of drawn wire, the reversing means preferablycomprising a reversing solenoid valve means whose energization iscontrolled by switch means responsive to the opening and closingrelative movements between the drawing components.

Yet another object is to provide such novel drawing apparatus whereinthe drawing unit is shiftable on a support means in a direction alongthe axis of the wire and control means responsive to such shifting ofthe drawing unit controls the rate of operation of the power means, andtherefore, the rate of production of the drawn wire.

As still another object thereof this invention provides novelfluid-actuated drawing apparatus of the character above mentioned andhaving feeding means for feeding the drawn wire, and wherein theshifting of the drawing unit on the support means is dependent upon therate of production of the drawn wire in relation to the rate of feedingof the drawn wire, such resultant shifting of the drawing unit beingutilized as a control function for causing variation in the delivery ofpower medium to the power means for controlling the rate of productionof the drawn wire.

Additionally, this invention provides novel drawing apparatus of thecharacter above referred to wherein the power means is hydraulicallyactuated and a pressure fluid supply means connected therewith has avariable delivery controlled in response to the resultant shifting ofthe drawing unit along the support means.

Other objects, novel characteristics and advantages of this inventionwill be apparent in the following detailed description and in' theaccompanying drawings forming a part of this specification and in which,

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of drawing apparatus embodying thisinvention, the apparatus being shown with portions thereof broken awayand with the grip means and die means of the drawing unit in theiradjacent or closed relation;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the apparatus from the opposite side thereofand showing the grip means and die means in open relation;

. FIG. 3 is a partial end view of the apparatus as seen from thewire-entry end thereof;

FIG. 4 is mainly a sectional plan view of the apparatus taken asindicated by section line 4-4 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a partial transverse vertical section taken through theapparatus at the location of the grip means thereof, as indicated bysection line 5-5 of FIGS. 1 and 4;

FIG. 6 is an elevational view showing variable delivery pump meansforming a part of the pressure fluid supply means for the power means ofthe drawing unit; and

FIG. 7 is a sectional plan view similar to that of FIG. 4

but showing a modified form of the novel drawing apparatus.

In FIGS. 1 to 6 of the accompanying drawings there is shown a preferredembodiment of this invention. The novel drawing apparatus 16, shown byway of example comprises, in general, a support means 11 having alongitudinally extending guideway 12 thereon, and a drawing unit 13shiftable in opposite directions along such guideways. The drawing unit13 comprises carriage means 15 and a pair of first and second drawingcomponents 16 and 17 thereon and adapted for opening and closingrelative movements along the axis of a wire 18 to be drawn. The openingand closing relative movements between the drawing components 16 and 17are produced by a power means 19 embodied directly in the drawing unit13 and described hereinafter.

The first drawing component 16 comprises a drawing die 20 for reducingthe wire 18 during drawing traverse therebetween, and the second drawingcomponent 17 comprises a grip device 21 for gripping the wire during thedrawing traverse. In the apparatus 10 as herein disclosed the drawingdie 20 is pushed back, referring to the direction in which the wireprogresses or feeds through the apparatus as forward, along the wire 18as a drawing stroke during the separating or opening relative movementbetween the drawing components 16 and 17. The grip device 21 grips andholds the wire 18 thus preventing forward movement of the grippingcomponent along the wire during the drawing stroke of the die 20 butautomatically release-s the wire to permit backing movement of thegripping component during the closing relative movement between thedrawing components.

The support means 11 can be of any suitable form and need be of only arelatively light construction because the power for the drawingoperation is developed directly in the drawing unit 13 with the resultthat the support means is not required to transmit or resist any greatforces. The support means 11 is here shown as comprising an open type ofbase 22 of a suitable size and shape and having legs 27 adapted to standon a floor 23 or other support surface. At the top thereof the base 22is provided with a rectangular horizontal frame 24 which is here shownas comprised of channel-shaped members secured to the legs 27 andsupporting a pair of laterally spaced longitudinally extending rails 25and 26. The rails 25 and 26 are channel-shaped members whose channelrecesses provide the longitudinally extending guideway 12.

The carriage means 15 is here shown as comprising first and secondcarriers 28 and 29 which have incorporated therein the first and seconddrawing components 16 and 17, respectively, and are provided with pairsof suitable rollers 30 and 31 which operate in the guideway 12 formounting the carriage means on the base 22 in a manner to provide forlongitudinal shifting of the carriage means and to also provide for theabove-mentioned opening and closing relative axial movements between thefirst and second drawing components 16 and 17. The wire .18 enters thedrawing unit 13 through the drawing component 16 which contains thedrawing die 24} and leaves the drawing unit through the component 17which contains the grip device 21. The drawn wire 18* passes from thedrawing component 17 to an associated feeding means 33 which is hereshown as comprising a pair of suitably driven feed rolls 34 and 35having grooved peripheries in gripping engagement with the drawn wirefor exerting a pulling action thereon in imparting a forward feedingmovement thereto.

The first carrier 28 comprises a body 38 supported mainly by the rollers30 and an upright transverse plate member 39 secured thereto as bysuitable screws 40 and having forked end portions 19" and 39 for apurpose to be explained hereinafter. The body 38 contains a die socket41 adjacent the plate member 39 and in nvhich the drawing die 20 isreceived. The die 20 is retained in the socket 41 as by means of asuitable set screw 42.

The body 38 also contains a lubricant chamber 43 adjacent the drawingdie 20 for holding lubricant, such as a suitable powder, to be suppliedto the wire 18 and to the drawing die 26. The lubricant chamber 43 isclosed by a suitable cover 44 removably received on the body 36. Thewire 18 extends through and across the lubricant chamber 43, and isaccommodated by a suitable guide bushing 46 provided on the side wall 47of the lubricant chamber and a clearance opening 48 provided in the wallmember 39 on the exit side of the drawing die 20.

The second carrier 29 is here shown as comprising a substantiallyhorizontally disposed flat body 519 having a grip box 51 mounted thereonor incorporated therein. The body 51 is here shown as comprising upperand lower plates 52 and 53 connected by welding to the side walls 51'and 51 of the grip box 51 and to upright end walls 54 and 55 located onaxially opposite sides of the grip box. The end Wall 54- is providedwith a clearance opening 56 through which the drawn wire 18 passes tothe grip device 21 located in the grip box 51.

The rollers 31 supporting the second carrier 29 are here shown ascomprising two pairs of such rollers 31* and 31 mounted on a pair ofparallel upright longitudinally extending brackets 58 and 59. Thebrackets 58 and 59 are suitably secured, as by welding, to the undersideof the lower plate 53 on laterally opposite sides of the grip box 51and, as shown in FIG. 1, the brackets have arm portions 60 which are ofa length to extend beneath the carrier 28. The rollers 31 are mounted onthe arm portions 61) adjacent the free ends thereof.

The grip device 21 is of a conventional construction comprising a pairof tapered grip blocks 61 and 62 (see FIG. 4) having gripping portionsengageable with the drawn wire 18 and which blocks are located between apair of stationary wedge blocks 63 and 64 received in the pocket 65 ofthe grip box 51. Roller assemblies 66 comprising groups of antifrictionrollers are interposed between the tapered surfaces of the grip blocks61, 62 and the Wedge blocks 63, 64 and provide for limited axialshifting of the grip blocks whereby they are automatically actuatableinto gripping engagement with the drawn wire 18 upon any forwardmovement of the grip ping device along the wire, and automaticallyrelease the wire in response to any relative reverse or advance movementof the wire through the grip box. The grip device 21 is here shown asalso having filler plates 68 and 69 interposed between the Wedge blocks63, 64 and the upright side walls 51 51 of the grip box 51.

The end wall 55 of the body 50 is provided with a suitable mountingsleeve 71 which is threaded internally thereof and supports a bushing 72through which the drawn wire 18 passes as it leaves the grip blocks 61,62. The bushing 72 also forms a seat for a compression spring 73 whichis effective against the grip blocks for urging the same toward theirgripping position against the drawn wire 18*. Resilient holding members74- are provided on the second carrier 29 on opposite sides of themounting sleeve 71 and are connected with the roller assemblies 66 foryieldably retaining the latter in operative position between the gripblocks 61, 62 and their associated wedge blocks 63, 64.

The power means 19 of the drawing unit 13 is fluid pressure actuated,preferably by hydraulic fluid, and comprises reciprocably cooperatingcylinder and piston members 77 and 78. In the drawing apparatus 14 asshown in FIGS. 1 to 6 inclusive, the power means 19 comprises two suchcylinder members 77 and 77 mounted on the first carrier 28 in alongitudinally extending substantially parallel relation. The cylindermembers 77 and 77 are spaced apart laterally of the carrier 28 andlocated on opposite sides of the portion of the body 38 containing thelubricant chamber 43.

The power means 19 also comprises two of the piston members 78 mountedon piston rods 8% and 81 which project from the cylinder members 77 and77 The pair of cylinder chambers 90 and piston rods 80 and 81 have theirouter ends secured to the end wall 54 of the second carrier 29 bythreaded portions 82 extending therethrough and carrying clamping nuts83. The cylinder members 77 and 77 are mounted on the carrier 28 byhaving the front heads 84 and 85 thereof attached to the forked portions39 and 39 of the plate member 39 as by means of the screws 89. Thepiston rods 80 and 81 project through the front heads 84 and 85 and areguided and sealed therein by suitable bushings 86. The cylinder members77 and 77 are closed at the opposite end thereof by rear cylinder heads87 and 88.

Each of the cylinder members 77 and 77 contains a 91 on opposite sidesof the piston member 78 for a double-acting pressure fluid responsivefunctioning of the power means 19. Motive fluid is supplied to, andexhausted from, the cylinder chambers 90 and 91 through pairs offlexible conduit members 92 and 93. The conduit members 92 are connectedwith the front heads 84 and 85 for communication with the cylinderchambers 90, and the conduits 93 are connected with the rear cylinderheads 87 and 88 for communication with the cylinder chambers 91.

From the construction of the drawing apparatus as thus far described itwill be recognized that when pressure fluid is supplied to the cylinderchambers 91 of the power means 19 the rear cylinder heads 87 and 88 willbe pushed away from the piston members 78 thereby causing the firstcarrier 28 to be moved toward the right along the guideway 12 and thedrawing die 20 to be pushed along the wire 18 through a drawing stroke.During this drawing stroke the second carrier 29 remains relativelystationary with the grip device 21 in gripping engagement with the drawnportion 18* of the wire for holding the wire against a backwardmovement, that is against movement toward the left in FIGS. 1 and 4.

- When pressure fluid is supplied to the cylinder chambers 90 and thepressure fluid previously supplied-to the cylinder chambers 91 isexhausted, the piston members 78 will be moved toward the right in thecylinder members 77 and 77 with the result that the second carrier 29will be moved rearwardly along the wire, that is, in a closing directionrelative to the first carrier 28 while the latter is stationary relativeto the wire by reason of the tight engagement of the drawing die 20therewith. During this relative closing movement the grip device 21releases its grip on the wire. At some time which may be during therelative opening and closing movements between the carriers 28 and 29,as just described above, are taking place the wire 18 is fed forward bythe feed device 33 as the wire is fed forward it pulls the carriagemeans along with it. The net result of these relative opening andclosing movements between the carriers 28 and 29 in conjunction with theforward feeding of the Wire 18 by the feed device 33 is a succession ofdrawing strokes of the die along the wire and a shifting of the drawingunit 13 back and forth along the guideway 12 of the support means 11.

The power means 19 has a substantially continuous reciprocatingoperation when the drawing apparatus 10 is in service and produces arapid succession of the drawing and return strokes of the die 20, asexplained above, so that a substantially continuous drawing operation onthe wire 18 is achieved. The substantially continuous reciprocatingoperation of the power means 19 is obtained by an automatic reversal ofthe pressure fluid supply thereto and, for this purpose, the drawingapparatus 10 is provided with reversing valve means 95 located betweenthe power device and a pressure fluid supply means 96.

The pressure fluid supply means 96 is here shown as comprising a pump 97driven by an electric motor 98. The pressure fluid supply means 96 alsoincludes a reservoir tank 99 located in the space within the base 22 andsupporting the pump 97 and its driving motor 98. They 6 pump 97 has theintake conduit 100 thereof connected with the reservoir chamber of thetank 99 and has the discharge conduit 101 thereof connected with thereversing valve means 95. A return conduit 102 extends from thereversing valve means 95 to the tank 99 for returning exhaust fluid tothe latter.

The reversing valve means 95 is here shown as comprising a solenoidactuated reversing valve 105 suitably mounted on the base 22 and havingcombined fluid delivery and return connections 106 and 107. Theconnection 106 has the pair of flexible conduits 92 attached thereto,and the connection 107 has the other pair of flexible conduits 93attached to it.

The reversing means for the power means 19 includes an electric switch104 for controlling the solenoid valve 105 and which switch, in thiscase, is mounted on the first carrier 16 (see FIGS. 2 and 4). Anenergizing circuit is provided for the solenoid valve 105 and is hererepresented by a conductor cord 108 having a plug 109 adapted to beconnected with a source of energizing current. The energizing circuitfor the solenoid valve 105 also includes a conductor cord 110 extendingto the electric switch 104.

The electric switch 104 includes an actuating lever 113 which isengageable by one or the other of a pair of axially spaced thrust screws114 and 115. The thrust screws 114 and 115 are carried by a bracket arm116 of the second carrier 29 so that during opening and closing relativemovements between the first and second carriers the switch 104 will beactuated to intermittently energize and de-energize the solenoid 117 ofthe solenoid valve 105. The energization and de-energization of thesolenoid valve '105 causes the same to perform its reversing functionfor reversing the flow of the pressure fluid, and consequently, causingrelative reciprocation between the cylinder and piston members 77 and 78of the power means 19. I Since the electric switch 104 will be actuatedautomatically at the ends of the opening and closing relative movementsbetween the first and second carriers 28 and 29, the supply of motivefluid to the power means 19 will be substantially continuous but with arepeated re versal in the direction of flow, and the drawing unit 13will consequently be operated to produce a succession of drawing strokesand a substantially continuous drawing operation on the wire 18.

The extent and direction of the shifting of the drawing unit 13 alongthe guideway 12 bears an important relation to the rate at which thedrawn wire 18 is fed by the feeding means 33. If the feeding means 33feeds the drawn wire 18* at exactly the rate at which the drawn wire isproduced by the drawing unit 13, this unit will remain at a given pointof the guideway 12. If, however, the drawing unit '13 produces drawnwire at a faster rate than such wire is fed by the feeding means 33, thedrawing unit will move toward the right along the guideway 12 and, in sodoing, will perform what can be conveniently referred to as a crawlingmovement by which it pulls itself along the wire. On the other hand, ifthe rate of feed by the feeding means 33 is greater than the rate atwhich the drawn wire 18" is produced by the drawing unit 13, the unitwill shift toward the left along the guideway 12 by a tendency to movewith the wire.

This shifting of the drawing unit 13 along the guide Way 12 in relationto the feeding action of the feeding means 33 is utilized as a controlfunction and movement for varying the rate at which the pressure fluidis supplied to the power means 19 to correspondingly vary the rate ofoperation of the drawing unit and thus automatically correlate the rateof production of the drawn wire with the rate of feed thereof by thefeeding means 33. For this cor-relating purpose, the drawing apparatus10 is provided with a second control means 120 which is associated withthe pressure fluid supply means 96 and will be described next.

The pump 97 is here shown as being of the type having a variable volumedelivery (see FIG. 6) but which is capable of maintaining apredetermined discharge pressure for the full range of volume variation.The volume variation is achieved by the shifting of an inner componentof the pump such as the cylinder ring 121. The shifting of the cylinderring 121 varies the eccentricity thereof relative to the pump rotor 122to increase or decrease the volume of fluid delivery depending upon thedirection and amount of shift imparted to the cylinder ring. In the pump97 shown in FIG. 6 the cylinder ring 121 is shiftable toward the leftfor decreasing the volume of fluid delivery, as by means of shiftplunger 123. Shifting of the cylinder ring 121 in the opposite directioncauses an increase in the volume of fluid delivery and is produced by acompression spring 124.

The control means '120 comprises a rotatable drum 127 having a threadedstub shaft 128 received in a threaded opening 129 of a support bracket130. The threaded shaft 128 includes an adjusting screw 131 whichextends therethrough and has a thrust stem 132 projecting therefrom forthrust engagement with the shift plunger 123 of the pump 97. A lock nut133 provided on the adjusting screw 131 locks the same in the desiredposition of adjustment relative to the threaded shaft 128. Rotation ofthe drum 127 rotates the threaded shaft 128 thereof in the threadedopening 129 to thereby advance or retract the thrust stem 132 to cause acorresponding control shifting of the cylinder ring 121 of the pump 97.

Rotational movement is imparted to the drum 127 by a cable 134 having aportion 135 in wrapped engagement with the drum. The cable 134 isconnected with the car rier means 15 of the drawing unit 13, in thiscase, with the second carrier 29 which supports the grip device 21. Thecable 134 is suitably connected with the second carrier 29 as by meansof a plate bracket 136 depending from the latter as shown in FIGS. 1 and5. The portions of the cable 134 extending from the bracket 136 to thedrum 127 are guided by suitably located fair-lead pulleys 138, 139 and140. The cable 134 is maintained under suitable tension as by means of atension spring 141 provided therein.

The cable 134 transmits motion from the second carrier 29 to the drum127 of the control means 120 in accordance with the extent and directionof the shifting movement of the drawing unit 13 along the guideway 12.The direction and extent of the control movement transmitted willactuate the control means 120 in the proper direction, and for theproper amount, for automatically varying the volume delivery of thefluid supply means 96 whereby the rate of operation of the drawing unit13 by the power means 19 will be regulated for maintaining a correctrate of production of drawn wire 18 in relation to the rate at which thedrawn 'wire is being fed by the feeding means 33.

Because of the piston rod displacement factor in the power means 19 ofthe wire drawing apparatus the cylinder chambers 90, to which pressurefluid is supplied for causing return movement between the drawingcomponents, are of relatively smaller volume capacity than the cylinderchambers 91 to which pressure fluid is supplied for causing the drawingtraverse between the die 29 and wire 18. An advantage results from thisvolume relationship because the longer time required to fill the largecylinder chambers 91 with pressure fluid causes a relatively slowdrawing traverse between the die 20 and the wire 18, whereas the smallervolume of fluid required to fill the cylinder chambers 90' results in amore rapid return or closing movement between the drawing components 16and 17.

FIG. 7 of the drawings shows a modified drawing apparatus 145 which issimilar to the apparatus 10 and functions in generally the same manner.The modified apparatus 145, however, is provided with power means 146which comprises a single cylinder member 147 and a single piston member148. In other respects the modified drawing apparatus 145 issubstantially the same as the drawing apparatus 10 and correspondingparts have been designated by the same reference numerals.

The cylinder and piston members 147 and 148 are located in a coaxialrelation with respect to the wire 18 so that the wire passes throughthese members during its movement from the drawing die 20 to the gripdevice 21. The cylinder member 147 is an annular cylinder member havingring-shaped cylinder chambers 1'47 and 147 located on opposite sides ofthe piston 148. The cylinder member 147 includes an axial sleeve 149having a passage 150 to accommodate the wire 18. The piston member 148is also ring-shaped and is carried by a hollow piston rod 151. Thepiston rod 151 has an axial passage 152 to accommodate the wire 18 andin which the sleeve 149 of the cylinder member 147 is slidable.

In the drawing apparatus 10 the drawing component 16, which carries thedrawing die 20 and has only one pair of support rollers 30, is supportedin part by the sliding cooperation of the cylinder and piston members 77and 78. Similarly, in the modified drawing apparatus the drawingcomponent supporting the drawing die 20 and having the hollow piston rod151 connected therewith is supported in part by the single pair ofrollers 30 and in part by the sliding of'the piston 148 in the cylindermember 147.

From the accompanying drawings and the foregoing detailed description itwill now be readily understood that this invention provides noveldrawing apparatus in which numerous important advantages and new resultsare achieved, including those already described above, by having thepower means for the drawing operation embodied directly in a drawingunit comprising a die means and a gripping means as drawing componentsand the said components having relative opening and closing movementsproduced by such power means. It will also be recognized that byemploying double-acting fluid pressure responsive cylinder means as thepower means for the drawing operation and embodying the same directly inthe drawing unit, a smooth, rapid, quiet and powerful drawing operationcan be achieved and the apparatus can be readily constructed to handlelinear stock of a heavy or thick cross sectional size and can be usedwith, or independently of, any cut-off or fabricating mechanism or thelike. Additionally, it will be recognized that this novel drawingapparatus will require only a small amount of floor space, will place noload on the associated mechanism to which it supplies the drawn wire,permits an accurate feeding of the drawn wire with substantially nopull-back movement, and requires only a relatively light support meansfor the drawing unit. It will further be understood that the wire may befed either continuously or intermittently without regard to the lengthor rate of repetition of the stroke of the drawing unit.

Although the drawing apparatus of this invention has been illustratedand described herein to a somewhat detailed extent, it will beunderstood, of course, that the invention is not to be regarded as beinglimited correspondingly in scope but includes all changes andmodifications coming within the terms of the claims hereof.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. In drawing apparatus for continuous linear wire stock; a supportmeans; drawing means comprising a pair of drawing components on saidsupport means for drawing continuous stock; one of said componentscomprising a die means for drawing the stock, the other of saidcomponents being located at the die-exit or drawn stock side of said onecomponent and comprising during drawing traverse between said die meansand the stock, and a grip device for gripping the stock during thedrawing traverse; said components having opening and closing relativemovements along the axis of the stock for causing said drawing traverse;double-acting hydraulic pressure fluid responsive power means comprisingreciprocably co-operable cylinder and piston power members for producingsaid opening movement and said closing movement; said cylinder memberhaving cylinder chambers therein on opposite sides of said pistonmember; one of said power members being connected with said componentcomprising said grip device and the other being connected with saidcomponent comprising said die means; and hydraulic pressure fluid supplymeans connected with said cylinder chambers including a reversing valvemeans responsive to predetermined relative movement between saidcylinder and piston members for reversing the fiow of hydraulic fluidinto and out of said cylinder chambers; said power means being operableto produce a continuous succession of said opening and closing relativemovements between said components and a consequent substantiallycontinuous drawing of the stock.

; 2. Drawing apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said drawing meansis shiftable on said support means in opposite directions lengthwise ofthe stock and said reversing valve means is solenoid controlled andwhich comprises control switch means for controlling said solenoidcontrolled valve means in response to said predeterminedrelative'movement between said cylinder and piston members.

3. Drawing apparatus according to claim 2 and comprising feed meansengaging the drawn stock and operable to impart a pulling movement tothe stock and to said drawing means through said stock.

4. In wire drawing apparatus; a support means; drawing means comprisinga pair of drawing components, one being a die means for reducing thewire during drawing traverse between the die means and wire and theother being a grip device for gripping the wire during the drawingtraverse; said gripping device being located at the dieexit side of saiddie means and said components having opening and closing relativemovements along the axis of .the wire for causing said drawing traverseand a return movement; carriage means ,shiftableon said support meansalong said axis and comprising first and second relatively movablecarriers supporting said drawing components for said opening and closingmovements; doubleacting hydraulic pressure fluid responsive power meanscomprising reciprocably co-operable cylinder and piston power membersfor producing the drawing traverse movement and said return movement;said cylinder member having cylinder chambers therein on opposite sidesof said piston member; one of said power members being connected withthe carrier supporting said die means and the other being connected withthe carrier supporting said grip device; hydraulic pressure fluidconduit means connected with said cylinder chambers; fluid flowreversing means for the fluid being supplied to said cylinder chambers;and control means located on said carriage means and automaticallyresponsive to predetermined relative movement between said carriers forconnecting said fluid flow reversing means. 7

I 5. Wire drawing apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said fluid flowreversing means comprises solenoid valve means located on said supportmeans; said control means comprising switch means electrically connectedwith said solenoid valve means for controlling energization thereof.

6. Wire drawing apparatus according to claim 4 and comprising meansoperable to vary the amount of pressure fluid being supplied to saidcylinder chambers for varying the rate of production of drawn wire bysaid drawing means.

7. Wire drawing apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said pressurefluid supply means comprises variable delivery pump means connected withsaid cylinder chambers through said flow reversing means.

8. Wire drawing apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said pressurefluid supply means comprises variable delivery pump means connected withsaid cylinder chambers through said flow reversing means; and othercontrol means connected between said carriage means and said pump meansfor varying the fluid delivery by the latter in response topredetermined shifting of said carriage means on said support means.

9. Wire drawing apparatus according to claim 4 and also comprising feedmeans operable to impart feeding movement to the drawn wire beingproduced by said drawing means; the shifting of said carriage means onsaid support means being a resultant movement in one direction when therate of production of the drawn wire exceeds said feeding movement andin the other direction when the feeding movement exceeds the rate ofproduction of the drawn wire; and means operable in response to saidresultant movement for varying the amount of pressure fluid beingsupplied to said cylinder chambers.

10. In wire drawing apparatus; a support means; drawing means comprisinga pair of drawing components, one being a die means for reducing thewire during drawing traverse between the die means and wire and theother being a grip device for gripping the wire during the drawingtraverse; said gripping device being located at the dieexit side of saiddie means and said components having opening and closing relativemovements along the axis of said wire for causing a drawing stroke inone direction and a return movement in the opposite direction; carriagemeans shiftable on said support means and along said axis comprisingfirst and second relatively movable carriers supporting said drawingcomponents for said opening and closing movements; power meanscomprising reciprocably co-operable cylinder and piston power membersfor producing said drawing stroke and said return movement; saidcylinder member having an expansible cylinder chamber therein on oneside of said 'piston member; one of said power members being connectedwith the carrier supporting said die means and the other being connectedwith the carrier supporting said grip device; hydraulic pressure fluidsupply means connectedv with said cylinder chamber including fluid flowreversing solenoid valve means for causing pressure fluid to beintermittently supplied to said cylinder chamber for causing the drawingstrokes, and to be intermittently exhausted from said cylinder chamberto permit the return move ment; switch means located on said carriagemeans and responsive to predetermined relative movement between saidcarriers for controlling energization of said solenoid valve means; saidfluid supply means comprising variable delivery control means forvarying the volume delivery of pressure fluid to said cylinder chamberfor varying the rate of production of drawn stock; and means responsiveto predetermined shifting of said carriage means on said support meansfor causing actuation of said variable delivery control means.

11. Wire drawing apparatus according to claim 10 wherein said cylinderand piston power members comprise a pair of cylinder members containingassociated piston members and disposed in a laterally spacedsubstantially parallel relation on opposite sides of said axis forpassage of said wire therebetween.

12. Wire drawing apparatus according to claim 10 wherein said cylinderand piston power members comprise a cylinder and an associated pistonsubstantially coaxial with said axis and having a common longitudinalpassage for movement of said wire therethrough.

13. In drawing apparatus for continuous linear wire stock; a supportmeans; a grip means and a drawing die means in a spaced-apart relationon said support means and relatively movable along the axis of the stockin opening and closing directions for causing drawing and returnstrokes; said grip means being on the die-exit side of said die means;power means comprising reciprocably co-operable cylinder and pistonmembers connected directly with said grip means and die means; saidcylinder member having cylinder chambers of diflerent volumes onopposite sides of said piston member; pressure fluid supply means forthe actuation of said power means and means for controlling the flow ofpressure fluid to and from said cylinder chambers of said cylindermember for causing a succession of said drawing strokes; the volumerelation of said cylinder chambers being such that the pressure fluidbeing supplied thereto produces said drawing strokes at a given rate ofmovement and said return strokes at a relatively faster rate ofmovement.

14. In a wire drawing apparatus; a support means having longitudinallyextending guide means; first and second carrier means movable relativeto each other along said guide means; drawing means comprising a drawingdie on said first carrier means and a grip device on said second carriermeans; said grip device being on the dieexist side of said die powermeans comprising reciprocably co-operable cylinder and piston membersconnected with said' first and second carrier means and operable toproduce successive drawing strokes of said die means along a Wire to bedrawn; said grip device being effective to grip the wire for holding thesame against backward movement during said drawing strokes; hydraulicpressure fluid supply means connected with said power means including areversing solenoid valve means; switch means controlling theenergization of said solenoid valve means and responsive topredetermined relative movement between said first and second carriersfor causing automatic reversal of the direction of operation of saidpower means; said hydraulic pressure fluid supply means comprisingvariable delivery means having control means selectively movable forvarying the fluid delivery and thereby controlling the rate of operationof said power means; and motion transmitting means connected betweensaid second carrier means and said control means for actuating thelatter in response to predetermined shifting of said second carriermeans along said guideway.

15. Wire drawing apparatus according to claim 14 and comprising feedmeans engageable with the drawn wire and operable to feed the sameduring the production of the drawn wire by the drawing operation; saidsecond carrier means being shiftable along said guideway in onedirection when the rate of production of the drawn wire exceeds the rateof feeding thereof by said feed means, and in the opposite directionwhen the rate of production of drawn wire exceeds the rate of feeding bysaid feed means; the actuation of said variable delivery control meansby said motion transmitting means being effective to increase ordecrease the rate of production of drawn wire in relation to the rate offeeding of the drawn wire by said feed means.

16. Wire drawing apparatus according to claim 14 wherein said variabledelivery control means includes a rotatable drum member and said motiontransmitting means comprises cable means connected with said secondcarrier means and having a portion thereof in wrapped engagement withsaid drum member.

17. Wire drawing apparatus according to claim 14 wherein said variabledelivery means comprises pump means having a movable control member; arotatable drum member; and threaded means effective between said drummember and said movable control member for actuating the latter; saidmotion transmitting means comprises cable means connected with saidsecond carrier means and having a portion thereof in wrapped engagementwith said drum member.

18. In drawing apparatus for continuous linear wire stock: a supportmeans; drawing means comprising a pair of drawing components for drawingcontinuous stock and means for producing opening and closing relativemovements of said components along the stock; means operativelyconnecting said drawing components to said support means for movementrelative thereto lengthwise of the stock; one of said componentscomprising a die means for drawing the stock during drawing traversebetween said die means and the stock and the other of said' componentscomprising a grip device for gripping the Stock during the drawingtraverse; said gri device being on the die-exit side of said die means;means for producing said opening and closing movements of saidcomponents along the stock; and means for varying said opening movementof said components along the stock as a function of the position of saiddrawing means in said support means.

19. In drawing apparatus for continuous linear wire stock: a supportmeans; drawing means comprising a pair of drawing components for drawingcontinuous stock; means operatively connecting said drawing componentsto said support means for movement relative thereto lengthwise of thestock; one of said components comprising a die means for drawing thestock during drawing traverse between said die component and the stockand the other of said components comprising a grip device for grippingthe stock during the drawing traverse; said grip device being on thedie-exit side of said die means; said components having opening andclosing relative movements along the stock for causing said drawingtraverse; power means for producing said opening and closing movementsof said components along the stock; and means for varying said openingmovement of said components along the stock as a function of theposition of said drawing means in said support means.

20. In drawing apparatus for continuous linear wire stock: a supportmeans; drawing means comprising a pair of drawing components for drawingcontinuous stock; means operatively connecting said drawing componentsto said support means for movement relative thereto lengthwise of thestock; one of said components comprising a die means for drawing thestock during drawing traverse between said die means and the stock andthe other of said components comprising a grip device for gripping thestock during the drawing traverse; said grip device being on thedie-exit side of said die means; said components having opening andclosing relative movements along the stock for causing said drawingtraverse; hydraulic pressure fluid responsive power means comprisingcooperating piston and cylinder members for producing said openingmovement of said components along the stock; and means for controllingthe rate of flow of fluid to said power means as a function of theposition of said drawing means in said support means.

21. In drawing apparatus for linear wire stock: a support means; drawingmeans movably carried by said support means and comprising a pair ofdrawing components on said support means; one of said componentscomprising a die means for drawing the stock during drawing traversebetween said die means and the stock, and the other of said componentscomprising a grip device for gripping the stock during the drawingtraverse; said grip device being on the die-exit side of said die means,said components having opening and closing relative movements along theaxis of said stock for causing said drawing traverse in one directionand a return movement in the opposite direction; double-acting hydraulicpressure fluid responsive power means comprising reciprocablyco-operable cylinder and piston power members for opening saidcomponents and producing the drawing traverse movement and said returnmovement; said cylinder member having cylinder chambers therein onopposite sides of said piston member; one of said power members beingoperatively connected with one of said components and the other beingoperatively connected with the other of said components; hydraulicpressure fluid supply means connected with said cylinder memberincluding valve means responsive to predetermined relative movementbetween said cylinder and piston members for controlling the flow ofhydraulic fluid into and out of said cylinder member; and means forvarying the rate of flow of said hydraulic pressure fluid to said powermeans as a function of the position of said drawing means on saidsupport means.

(References on following page) 13 14 References Cited by the Examiner2,880,854 4/ 1959 Friedman 20516 3,017,016 1/1962 Ehlert 205 13 UNITEDSTATES PATENTS 3,195,336 7/1965 Lindemann 72 72 2,5 6, 2 6 50 2 2 gig 5CHARLES w. LANHAM, Primary Exammer.

2,803,110 8/ 1957 Chittenden 91275 H. D. HOINKES, Assistant Examiner.

1. IN DRAWING APPARATUS FOR CONTINUOUS LINEAR WIRE STOCK; A SUPPORT MEANS; DRAWING MEANS COMPRISING A PAIR OF DRAWING COMPONENTS ON SAID SUPPORT MEANS FOR DRAWING CONTINUOUS STOCK; ONE OF SAID COMPONENTS COMPRISING A DIE MEANS FOR DRAWING THE STOCK, THE OTHER OF SAID COMPONENTS BEING LOCATED AT THE DIE-EXIT OR DRAWN STOCK SIDE OF SAID ONE COMPONENT AND COMPRISING DURING DRAWING TRAVERSE BETWEEN SAID DIE MEANS AND THE STOCK, AND A GRIP DEVICE FOR GRIPPING THE STOCK DURING THE DRAWING TRAVERSE SAID COMPONENTS HAVING OPENING AND CLOSING RELATIVE MOVEMENTS ALONG THE AXIS OF THE STOCK FOR CAUSING SAID DRAWING TRAVERSE; DOUBLE-ACTING HYDRAULIC PRESSURE FLUID RESPONSIVE POWER MEANS COMPRISING RECIPROCABLY CO-OPERABLE CYLINDER AND PISTON POWER MEMBERS FOR PRODUCING SAID OPENING MOVEMENT AND SAID CLOSING MOVEMENT; SAID CYLINDER MEMBER HAVING CYLINDER CHAMBERS THEREIN ON OP- 